Ancestral Lineage

Chapter 85 I Am Her Soulmate.

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Present Time...

"I would advise you against touching her any longer. The consequences will be very severe."

"You came!"

"Sorry I was late."

A figure emerged from the shadows, exuding a presence that made the very air heavy with tension. His eyes glowed a chilling crimson, crackling with an energy that felt both ancient and otherworldly. He was tall—nearly 6.8 feet—with black hair, a muscular build, and a rigid, broad face that exuded authority. This was Ethan, cloaked in the power of *Master of Auras* and *Sync*. His aura had been transformed to resemble a passing student, and Sync with Galeno had altered his form into that of an imposing bodybuilder.

"You! Who are you?!" Leon demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of panic and confusion.

"I am her soulmate."

"Her what?"

"Are you deaf?" Ethan's voice dropped to a low, menacing tone. The ground rumbled beneath their feet, responding to his command of the Earth affinity. Without warning, he conjured a massive boulder and hurled it toward Leon with a flick of his hand.

Reacting instinctively, Leon summoned an ice shield. The clash of elements sent shockwaves through the room. Although the boulder shattered against the shield, the sheer force pushed Leon back several feet. Ethan wasted no time. He moved like a shadow, tearing apart the ropes binding Andriel to the pole and hoisting her effortlessly over his shoulder.

"Hey! She's mine!" Leon bellowed, a desperate edge to his voice.

"Piss off, idiot!" Ethan spat, his words cutting like a blade as he faded from sight.

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Ethan moved with precision, the weight of Andriel on his shoulder barely slowing him down. His breath came steady, controlled, and his sharp eyes scanned the room for potential obstacles. He wasn't just escaping—he was navigating a chessboard where every step carried the risk of exposure.

But something was wrong. His aura flickered unexpectedly, a subtle but concerning sign. Andriel...he thought, realizing she was the culprit. The chaotic energy radiating from her was destabilizing his finely tuned control over Master of Auras and Sync. The Earth beneath him pulsed erratically, as though mirroring her inner turmoil.

Just as he reached the doorway, Andriel stirred. "I-I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling with guilt.

"Huh?!"

A sharp, glinting projectile of ice whizzed past Ethan's ear, narrowly missing him. Without hesitation, he twisted his body, evading the attack with a fluid grace that belied his size. He slammed his free hand into the ground, summoning a jagged wall of stone to intercept a second volley. The ice shattered on impact, sending shards scattering across the room.

Leon's frustrated growl echoed behind him. "Who the hell are you?! How do you have this much power?!"

Ethan didn't respond. Words would only waste time, and time was something he couldn't afford to lose. The Earth beneath him shifted, rising in subtle waves that propelled him forward. He wasn't just running—he was weaving through the environment, using his affinity to enhance every movement.

---

Ethan's usual stealth mode faltered again, his form flickering visibly as he crossed the hallway. His Sync with Galeno struggled to maintain stability. Andriel's surging power was like a storm, unraveling his carefully crafted disguise. He clenched his teeth, his focus unwavering.

The exit was just ahead, but the air around him grew heavy. He felt the presence of someone—or something—waiting for him outside.

Time Limit: Now!

Penalty: Lose all your loved ones.

Rewards: 30% Sync.

---

Ethan's jaw tightened. "It just got messier," he muttered, his eyes fixed on Andriel's glowing form. The earth cracked around him, mirroring the chaos in the sky.

His friends gathered around; fear etched into their faces. Trevor stepped forward. "Ethan, what's happening?!"

Ethan's gaze didn't waver. "She's unstable. If I don't stop her, everyone will die."

"Then let someone stronger handle it!" Clara shouted, her voice breaking with desperation.

"No one else can." Ethan's voice was steady, resolute. "I'm her soulmate. If anyone else intervenes, I'm the one who dies."

---

Ethan closed his eyes briefly, centering himself as a storm of emotions and power brewed within him. He felt his connection to the Earth surge as if the planet itself was pleading for balance. But this wasn't just about power—this was about duty, survival, and something deeper he didn't yet fully understand.

He inhaled deeply, and the change began.

It started subtly: a flicker of deep red at the tips of his hair, like embers in the wind. Then, like a wildfire, it spread. His red hair grew longer, flowing down his back as the fiery red deepened, leaving only streaks of black at the ends. Each strand seemed to pulse, alive with energy, glowing faintly in the dim light.

The air around him thickened, crackling with tension as his muscles began to bulge. His chest expanded, and his shoulders broadened with a deep, audible groan, the fibers of his body stretching and hardening like tempered steel. His skin shimmered briefly before black scales erupted along his neck and jawline, cascading down his collarbone and arms. They glistened in the faint light, interwoven with streaks of crimson that pulsed like veins carrying molten lava.

Ethan's hands were next. His fingers elongated, the nails hardening and darkening into razor-sharp claws that glinted ominously. The ground beneath him cracked under the pressure of his transformation, small shards of stone rising as if in reverence to the power surging through him.

A low, guttural growl escaped his lips as his face shifted. His once-sharp features became more angular, his jawline more pronounced. His ears stretched, becoming long and tapering to points, with the tips glowing faintly red. Then came the most dramatic change: a third eye slowly opened on his forehead, the skin parting seamlessly. It glowed with a silvery-blue light, radiating an eerie yet commanding presence. His original eyes darkened, the whites replaced by a deep black while the pupils burned gold, emitting a faint glow that pierced the surrounding shadows.

Black, jagged spikes emerged from his elbows, their edges razor-sharp and gleaming like obsidian blades. His back straightened, his form towering over the others as he now stood a monstrous 7 feet tall, the sheer size of his frame dwarfing everyone. Every movement exuded raw power, each step causing the ground to shudder under his immense weight.

Ethan's breath came in steady, controlled huffs, his chest rising and falling with an intensity that suggested he was on the verge of losing himself to the transformation. But his voice, when he spoke, was deep, resonant, and unwavering.

"I have to stop Andriel," he said, his voice carrying an almost primal authority. "If I don't, everyone will die."

His words silenced any protest, but the weight of his decision hung heavy in the air. Clara's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she took a step forward.

"You don't have to do this!" she cried, her voice cracking.

Ethan turned to her, his scaled hand brushing against her shoulder with surprising gentleness. "Trevor, take care of her," he said, his glowing eyes locking onto his friend. "I promise I'll come back."

Trevor, though clearly shaken, gave a firm nod. "Good luck, bro. We'll cover your back."

Ethan gave one last glance at his friends. His expression, though hardened by his transformation, carried a quiet determination. Without another word, he turned and crouched, his claws digging into the earth. The ground cracked beneath his feet, energy coiling around him like a spring. With a powerful leap, he launched into the air, his form a blur of red and black as a shimmering purple portal opened before him.

The portal swallowed him whole, leaving only the faint hum of energy behind.